Welcome to the Bank Street Children's Book Committee's (CBC) Searchable Best Books List, a tool designed to help educators, families, librarians, and others access developmentally appropriate and engaging books for young readers (ages birth - 18).
Our online Searchable Best Books List draws from the committee's annual Best Children's Books of the Year-beginning with the list of books published in 2000-with each featuring more than 600 high-quality titles for young readers.
To share feedback about the tool, please feel free to email bookcom@bankstreet.edu. To learn more about the CBC, visit https://www.bankstreet.edu/cbc/.
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Fauja Singh Keeps Going: The True Story of the Oldest Person to Ever Run a Marathon
SIMRAN JEET SINGH
Illustrator: Baljinder Kaur
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
Overcoming lifetime obstacles, a Sikh broke all records in 1911 as the first 100-year-old man to run the marathon. Collage-like illustrations. Back matter.
SIMRAN JEET SINGH
Illustrator: Baljinder Kaur
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
Overcoming lifetime obstacles, a Sikh broke all records in 1911 as the first 100-year-old man to run the marathon. Collage-like illustrations. Back matter.
Feathered Serpent and the Five Suns: A Mesoamerican Creation Myth
Duncan Tonatiuh
Illustrator: Duncan Tonatiuh
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
Quetzalcóatl, ancient MesoAmerican god of knowledge, embarks on a dangerous but successful quest to the underworld to create humankind. Illustrations evoking ancient codices. Endnotes.
Duncan Tonatiuh
Illustrator: Duncan Tonatiuh
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
Quetzalcóatl, ancient MesoAmerican god of knowledge, embarks on a dangerous but successful quest to the underworld to create humankind. Illustrations evoking ancient codices. Endnotes.
Felix and the Monsters
Josh Holtsclaw and Monica Holtsclaw
Illustrator: Josh Holtsclaw and Monica Holtsclaw
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
Guards follow orders to exclude a group of monsters until they learn to be inclusive through the magic of music. Mixed media and digital artwork.
Josh Holtsclaw and Monica Holtsclaw
Illustrator: Josh Holtsclaw and Monica Holtsclaw
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
Guards follow orders to exclude a group of monsters until they learn to be inclusive through the magic of music. Mixed media and digital artwork.
Fly High, John Glenn: The Story of an American Hero
Kathleen Krull
Illustrator: Maurizio A.C. Quarello
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
Glenn's lifelong passion for flying began in childhood and clearly continues as he flies at age 90. Supportive illustrations.
Kathleen Krull
Illustrator: Maurizio A.C. Quarello
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
Glenn's lifelong passion for flying began in childhood and clearly continues as he flies at age 90. Supportive illustrations.
Frogs (We Both Read)
Sindy McKay
Illustrator: Photographs
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
The life cycle, predators and diet presented in simple text for beginning readers with additional information for adults. Color photographs and back matter.
Sindy McKay
Illustrator: Photographs
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
The life cycle, predators and diet presented in simple text for beginning readers with additional information for adults. Color photographs and back matter.
From My Window
Otavio Junior
Illustrator: Vanina Starkoff
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
A boy looks out his window and sees the poverty and the treasures of his neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Vibrant acrylic illustrations finished digitally.
Otavio Junior
Illustrator: Vanina Starkoff
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
A boy looks out his window and sees the poverty and the treasures of his neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Vibrant acrylic illustrations finished digitally.
Gift for Amma, A: Market Day in India
Meera Sriram
Illustrator: Mariona Cabassa
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
A little girl in South India shops for a present for her mother and describes the market products. Vibrant multimedia pictures. Back matter includes information about international markets.
Meera Sriram
Illustrator: Mariona Cabassa
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
A little girl in South India shops for a present for her mother and describes the market products. Vibrant multimedia pictures. Back matter includes information about international markets.
Ginger and Chrysanthemum
Kristen Mai Giang
Illustrator: Shirley Chan
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
Young girl cousins of different temperaments work out their differences to bake a special cake for their grandmother's birthday. Supportive bright digital art.
Kristen Mai Giang
Illustrator: Shirley Chan
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
Young girl cousins of different temperaments work out their differences to bake a special cake for their grandmother's birthday. Supportive bright digital art.
Girl Named Rosita, A: The Story of Rita Moreno: Actor, Singer, Dancer, Trailblazer!
Anika Aldamuy Denise
Illustrator: Leo Espinosa
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
Determined Puerto Rican Rosita becomes the talented star, Rita Moreno, breaking barriers for LatinX women. Vibrant illustrations showcase the star in action. Author's note, timeline.
Anika Aldamuy Denise
Illustrator: Leo Espinosa
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
Determined Puerto Rican Rosita becomes the talented star, Rita Moreno, breaking barriers for LatinX women. Vibrant illustrations showcase the star in action. Author's note, timeline.
Golden Threads
Suzanne Del Rizzo
Illustrator: Miki Sato
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
Emi's much loved stuffed fox is ripped away by a big storm. Will he find his way back home? Vibrant, textured collages.
Suzanne Del Rizzo
Illustrator: Miki Sato
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
Emi's much loved stuffed fox is ripped away by a big storm. Will he find his way back home? Vibrant, textured collages.
Grandma and the Rooster
Yumei Wang
Illustrator: Hechen Yu
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
A rooster doomed for chicken soup is saved by a granddaughter who discovers the bird's positive impact on others. Eye-popping watercolors capture the Chinese New Year.
Yumei Wang
Illustrator: Hechen Yu
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
A rooster doomed for chicken soup is saved by a granddaughter who discovers the bird's positive impact on others. Eye-popping watercolors capture the Chinese New Year.
Harlem Grown: How One Big Idea Transformed a Neighborhood
Tony Hillery
Illustrator: Jessie Hartland
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
When new teacher, Mr. Tony, saw the trash-filled empty lot across from PS175, he and his students created a community vegetable garden. Whimsical gouache illustrations.
Tony Hillery
Illustrator: Jessie Hartland
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
When new teacher, Mr. Tony, saw the trash-filled empty lot across from PS175, he and his students created a community vegetable garden. Whimsical gouache illustrations.
Hello, Neighbor! The Kind and Caring World of Mister Rogers
Matthew Cordell
Illustrator: Matthew Cordell
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
The birth of the television show and Fred Roger's path are depicted in ink and watercolor illustrations.
Matthew Cordell
Illustrator: Matthew Cordell
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
The birth of the television show and Fred Roger's path are depicted in ink and watercolor illustrations.
Highlights Book of Things to Do, The
Highlights
Illustrator: Highlights
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
One hundred indoor and outdoor activities to foster physical, mental, creative and personal growth skills. Clear text and illustrations.
Highlights
Illustrator: Highlights
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
One hundred indoor and outdoor activities to foster physical, mental, creative and personal growth skills. Clear text and illustrations.
Hike
Pete Oswald
Illustrator: Pete Oswald
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
A father and child spend a day in the woods, hiking, observing woodland creatures and planting a tree seedling. Angular softly colored digital illustrations.
Pete Oswald
Illustrator: Pete Oswald
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
A father and child spend a day in the woods, hiking, observing woodland creatures and planting a tree seedling. Angular softly colored digital illustrations.
Honey: The Dog Who Saved Abe Lincoln
Shari Swanson
Illustrator: Chuck Groenink
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
Young Abe Lincoln's compassion and affinity with nature are celebrated in a rescue story with a dog hero. Engaging digital illustrations. Timeline.
Shari Swanson
Illustrator: Chuck Groenink
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
Young Abe Lincoln's compassion and affinity with nature are celebrated in a rescue story with a dog hero. Engaging digital illustrations. Timeline.
How to Find a Bird
Jennifer Ward
Illustrator: Diana Sudyka
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
Children are directed to look for the birds in the gentle watercolor illustrations just as they would outdoors.
Jennifer Ward
Illustrator: Diana Sudyka
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
Children are directed to look for the birds in the gentle watercolor illustrations just as they would outdoors.
How to Solve a Problem: The Rise (and Falls) of a Rock-Climbing Champion
Ashima Shiraishi
Illustrator: Yao Xiao
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
A famous Japanese-American shares her patience, perseverance, creative strategies, and failures, essential for her successful climbs to challenging summits. Colorful vistas depicted. Timeline, end papers.
Ashima Shiraishi
Illustrator: Yao Xiao
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
A famous Japanese-American shares her patience, perseverance, creative strategies, and failures, essential for her successful climbs to challenging summits. Colorful vistas depicted. Timeline, end papers.
I Am Every Good Thing
Derrick Barnes
Illustrator: Gordon C. James
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
A joyful celebration of Black boys and the wonderful things that they are and can be, is told in energetic lyrical language and accompanied by boldly colored oil painted illustrations.
Derrick Barnes
Illustrator: Gordon C. James
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
A joyful celebration of Black boys and the wonderful things that they are and can be, is told in energetic lyrical language and accompanied by boldly colored oil painted illustrations.
I Am Goose!
Dorothia Rohner
Illustrator: Vanya Nastanlieva
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
A group of very talkative animals argue with each other as they play a game. Clever mixed media illustrations.
Dorothia Rohner
Illustrator: Vanya Nastanlieva
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
A group of very talkative animals argue with each other as they play a game. Clever mixed media illustrations.
I Am the Storm
Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple
Illustrator: Kristen Howdeshell and Kevin Howdeshell
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
What is it like to live through a tornado, blizzard, forest fire, or hurricane? Calming lyrical text and vivid illustrations capture children's experiences of extreme weather and its aftermath. Back matter.
Jane Yolen and Heidi E. Y. Stemple
Illustrator: Kristen Howdeshell and Kevin Howdeshell
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
What is it like to live through a tornado, blizzard, forest fire, or hurricane? Calming lyrical text and vivid illustrations capture children's experiences of extreme weather and its aftermath. Back matter.
Ice!: Poems About Polar Life
Douglas Florian
Illustrator: Douglas Florian
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
Playful turns of phrase about the inhabitants of earth's frozen zones are enhanced with colored pencil and oil pastel illustrations.
Douglas Florian
Illustrator: Douglas Florian
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
Playful turns of phrase about the inhabitants of earth's frozen zones are enhanced with colored pencil and oil pastel illustrations.
I Dream of a Journey
Akiko Miyakoshi
Illustrator: Akiko Miyakoshi
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
A small-town hotel owner enjoys the stories of varied guests and longs to travel the world. Anthropomorphic animal characters; glowing, soft-textured drawings.
Akiko Miyakoshi
Illustrator: Akiko Miyakoshi
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
A small-town hotel owner enjoys the stories of varied guests and longs to travel the world. Anthropomorphic animal characters; glowing, soft-textured drawings.
If You Come to Earth
Sophie Blackall
Illustrator: Sophie Blackall
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
In this profound paean to our precious planet, a young boy describes the earth and all its complexity. Exquisite, luminous, and often quirky ink and watercolor illustrations.
Sophie Blackall
Illustrator: Sophie Blackall
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
In this profound paean to our precious planet, a young boy describes the earth and all its complexity. Exquisite, luminous, and often quirky ink and watercolor illustrations.
If You Take Away the Otter
Susannah Buhrman-Deever
Illustrator: Matthew Trueman
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
Otters play an important role in the northern Pacific Coast ecosystem. Discover what happened to their thriving home when they temporarily disappeared. Luminous mixed-media illustrations.
Susannah Buhrman-Deever
Illustrator: Matthew Trueman
Ages: 6+
Published: 2020
Otters play an important role in the northern Pacific Coast ecosystem. Discover what happened to their thriving home when they temporarily disappeared. Luminous mixed-media illustrations.